Maloney/Landry Golf Tournament Donates $5,000 To CREC River Street School

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The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)'s River Street School recently received a generous donation of $5,000 from the Mike Maloney & Pete Landry Memorial Golf Tournament. This is the third year in a row that CREC's River Street School has been a fortunate recipient of the Maloney/Landry Tournament's charitable giving. Each year, the funds go to support the school's many quality programs and services that assist children and families throughout the region and state. "Last year we were able to purchase some specialty vests designed for students with autism that have made a tremendous difference for some of our students," explained Deborah Richards, Director of Student Services. "Through donations like this, River Street School is able to stay on the cutting edge of new treatments for students with autism and developmental disabilities."

More than 20 years ago, the Maloney family started the golf tournament in memory of their brother Mike and brother-in-law Pete who passed unexpectedly, both before the age of 40. The fund was originally developed to support the brothers' surviving children. "Once our nieces and nephews completed college four years ago, we began to redirect the proceeds to organizations that are important to us, including CREC's River Street School, Manchester PAL and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation," explained Tim Maloney, co-organizer of the golf tournament. In 2010, the Maloney family learned about CREC's River Street School through a community member whose son attended the school. "Rick Funke approached us three years ago requesting we consider donating some of the proceeds to RSS. Since then we have donated $15,000."

"The CREC River Street School greatly appreciates the donation from the Mike Maloney & Pete Landry Golf Tournament," explained Tom Parvenski, program director at River Street School. For more than forty years, River Street has provided individualized, comprehensive services to students with developmental and medical disabilities. "We value the relationship we have developed with River Street School and CREC and are extremely impressed and appreciative of the work they do," explained Maloney.

CREC is also appreciative of the ongoing partnership with the tournament, which shares their mission and values. "I like to think this gift is an acknowledgment of the fine work the school and its staff does to improve the lives of students with autism," explained Parvenski. "We've been able to use the money to purchase equipment promoting the ability of the student to better communicate his wishes and to address very specific sensory needs which, if ignored, can lead to maladaptive behavior." In late September, Tim Maloney and Jack Maloney presented the check to Deborah Richards, CREC's director of Student Services, Tom Parvenski, program director at River Street School, and Jean Moura, assistant director at CREC River Street School.

More information about CREC or CREC's award-winning schools is available at http://www.crec.org.